Fishing and Access to Oneida Lake

Oneida Lake is best known for its walleye and yellow perch fishery. In the spring walleye can be found in shallow water adjacent to spawning areas and tributaries. During the summer months’ walleye are usually found in deeper water. As the water cools in the fall, walleye move back into the shallows. Fishing from shore after dark this time of year with stickbaits and blade baits can be fantastic. Walleye can also be caught through the ice around shoals, drop offs and deep water flats. Ice fishing for yellow perch is very popular on Oneida Lake and normally takes place around deepwater flats in 30-40 feet of water.

Oneida Lake is a fantastic bass fishing location, and numerous bass fishing tournaments are held each year on the lake. Oneida Lake has become a popular tournament stop for professional bass fishing organizations such as BASSMASTER and FLW. Smallmouth bass can be caught around the many shoals while largemouth bass are found in the larger bays and anywhere there is good vegetation growth. Panfish can be found throughout the lake. Big Bay is a popular ice fishing location for panfish and one of the first areas on the lake to ice up.

For current fishing information visit the DEC Central New York Fishing Hotline or call 607-753-1551.

To Access Oneida Lake

Godfrey Point Boat Launch – (Shown above right) is accessed by State Route 49, one mile east of the village of Cleveland. The site boasts room for 56 cars and trailers, is handicap accessible, lavatory facilities and a large hard surface ramp. 43.224389°N, 75.850254°W (on Google Maps)

Verona Beach State Park – off Lake Shore Rd. in Verona Beach. Shore and ice fishing access.  43.181269°N, 75.731041°W (on Google Maps)

For more information on these launches including Google Maps driving directions, visit the DEC’s Boat Launch Sites for Oneida County page. For More information about Oneida Lake Visit the DEC’s Information Page on Oneida Lake.

Fish Species:

Walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, northern pike, tiger musky, brown trout, Atlantic salmon, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, rock bass, black crappie, yellow perch, freshwater drum, common carp, bowfin, burbot, longnose gar, lake sturgeon, gizzard shad, and round goby.

Attention: Lake sturgeon can be found in the lake and its tributaries; however, lake sturgeon are on New York’s threatened species list and cannot be fished for or possessed.

Regulations:

DEC’s Statewide Fishing Regulations Apply. Just a reminder that beginning on April 1, 2022 walleye season now starts on May 1st, and black bass on June 15. And the walleye daily possession limit on Oneida Lake is 5 fish (was 3); with a minimum length of 15-inches.

Some tributaries to Oneida Lake have seasonal closures from March 16 through April 30. They can be found on the Special Fishing Regulations pages under Region 6 and Region 7.

Fisheries Management:

Oneida Lake is the main egg collection location for walleye in New York State. The DEC Oneida Fish Hatchery in Constantia collects over 300 million walleye eggs every year from Oneida Lake. The resulting walleye fry and fingerlings are stocked throughout New York State. Oneida Lake is stocked annually with around 150 million walleye fry. Lake sturgeon have been periodically stocked into Oneida Lake since 1995. Along with the DEC, both Cornell University and SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry School (ESF) do numerous research projects on the lake each year and have been monitoring the lake since the early 1900’s.

State of Oneida Lake Fisheries

Researchers at the Cornell Biological Field Station at Oneida Lake conduct an annual assessment of the fish community and fishery in Oneida Lake. Funded by a Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration grant, this monitoring project is the longest running warmwater fishery assessment in New York State. This information is used by DEC to aid in making management decisions to protect and enhance the Oneida Lake fishery.

The following PDF provides findings of the most recent sampling efforts: State of Oneida Lake Fisheries Summary Report 2021